Displaying items by tag: S E Asia motorcycle touring

The Contract. A contract is deemed to exist once a booking has been made and a deposit has been received by Thai Motorcycle Tours.com Co. Ltd (hereinafter referred to as TMT). By signing the booking form you accept all the conditions either stated or inferred, and those conditions apply to all those travelling on that booking, even if added at some later date.

Insurance.It is a condition of booking that you obtain all necessary insurance protection. Thai motorcycle Tours.com will not accept any responsibility for a client’s failure to obtain the requisite insurance cover.

Amendments.Reservation amendments by you following issue of a confirmation invoice and/or receipt of full payment must be made in writing and incur an amendment fee of £25.00.

Client cancellation charges.Your deposit is non-refundable as costs will have already been incurred by our company. Cancellation less than eight weeks before your tour date incurs a charge of 50% of the tour cost, and if a cancellation is made less than four weeks before the commencement of the tour payment will due in full.

Cancellation by us.(A) Thai Motorcycle Tours.com reserves the right to cancel Tours up to 14 days prior to commencement if minimum tour numbers have not been reached or if a rental motorcycle or substitute is no longer available. Thai Motorcycle Tours.com is obliged to give you as much warning as possible of any cancellation, and will make every endeavour to offer an alternative. If there is no suitable alternative, then the tour cost will be refunded in full, which will constitute full settlement. Thai Motorcycle Tours.com is under no obligation to refund the cost of additional arrangements such as extra nights accommodation or flights. (B.) Thai Motorcycle Tours.com and its guides reserved the right to accept, decline or restrain any customer from any tour at any time, and to cancel any contract on grounds of non-compliance with these terms and conditions, those of the guides, local traffic regulations or a guide's requirements for group travel. In such circumstances no refund will be due. Customers agree to except the authority and rules of Thai Motorcycle Tours.com , its guides and agents.

Acts of God.TMT, our agents, assignees and contractors accept no responsibility for and shall not be liable in respect of any loss, damage alterations or delays or changes arising from circumstances beyond our control, such as (but not restricted to) war or threat of war, industrial or political dispute, civil strife, fire, weather conditions, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, transportation difficulties, delays or cancellations, computer malfunctions or airport closures or congestion. If in doubt we suggest that you take any Foreign Office advice appertaining to the situation at that time.

Motorcycle hire.We undertake to provide you with a motorcycle either of the type already described in our brochure or with what is in our judgement a suitable alternative. If you are dissatisfied with the motorcycle offered then that must be made clear to the guide immediately as no alternative or refund will be offered as later complaints cannot be met. There is no refund if a motorcycle is returned prior to the end of a tour or if a client decides to terminate his/her tour before normal completion date.Helmets. It is a condition of Thai Motorcycle Tours.com, and indeed Thai law, that you wear an approved crash helmet when riding a motorcycle. We are sometimes able to provide helmets locally, but we strongly encourage you to bring your own. Thai Motorcycle Tours.com accepts no liability for the condition of any crash helmet.Riding areas.When touring it is your responsibility to follow any instructions or information issued to you by the tour leader. As a general rule, you must not leave the country, travel on private roads, or take the motorcycle off-road without our prior permission. Breaches of restrictions may invalidate travel and motorcycle insurances.

Tour description.Whilst TMT make every reasonable effort to be as accurate as possible with tour descriptions we reserve the right to alter the itinerary should local conditions or circumstances dictate a change at that time, provided that change is due to circumstances beyond our control or by the number of participants in that tour. Whilst taking part in a tour it is your responsibility to follow any instructions or information issued to you by the tour leader. TMT will not accept any liability if you do otherwise.

Mechanical problems or accidents.In the case of either mechanical problems or an accident, the client must remain with their bike throughout and take advice from the tour leader. The client must not attempt unauthorised repairs or have them undertaken without prior consent. You will be required to leave a deposit (this is required by Thai Law and we will provide ) with our contractors at the start of your tour, the deposit normally being equivalent to the insurance excess which is deductible. Any damages to the bike will be deducted by the contractor at the end of your tour.

Passports and visas.Thailand requires that your passport must be valid for more than six months after the date you intend to leave the country. If that is not the case you will probably be refused entry to the country and TMT cannot accept any responsibility under those circumstances.

Driving Licence.You must hold a current (for the length of your tour) Motorcycle licence valid to drive vehicles under Group A. An international driving licence is also required but is not sufficient by itself.

Age, experience and health.In order to qualify for a tour you need to be an experienced rider (preferably in group as well as individual riding) and have a full (and preferably clean) licence. Age is not a problem unless you are over seventy, in which case certain restrictions (insurance etc. which are beyond our control) may apply. In that situation we suggest that you take specialist advice.TMT cannot accept any responsibility if your health is in question before you undertake the tour (heart problems, for example) as whilst the tour itself is not strenuous you are up in the mountains and it can he hot. Furthermore TMT cannot be held responsible for any health problems which may occur as a result of the tour either during or after the event.

Special requests.TMT will undertake to comply with any special requests or requirements which you may make. You will be notified at that time of any extra cost(s) incurred.Pillion passengers. Passengers/non-riders are more than welcome on all Tours. Only pillions notified to Thai Motorcycle Tours.com may be carried. Pillions not on the booking sheet may be carried for an extra charge.Prices.The prices shown on either our brochure or website are correct at the time of the booking and are based on two persons sharing a room. TMT makes every endeavour to keep these prices except in the case of any changes in local regulations which are beyond our control.

Complaints. If you have any complaint about the service that you have received from Thai Motorcycle Tours.com , our contractors or guides we require you to do the following.

1. Lodge the complaint with your Thai Motorcycle Tours.com guide as soon as possible, to allow us the opportunity to rectify the cause of your complaint. Failure to do so may reduce or even extinguish your legal rights. At the very latest, the complaint must be lodged by the end of the tour .

2. If not resolved at the time, follow this up in writing to Thai Motorcycle Tours.com within 30 days of the completion of your tour .

All complaints will be acknowledged within seven days of receipt, and we aim to respond in full within 30 days.

This is the first of our tours to break the "1-week-long" format, 12days (11nights) in duration overall and we'll happily add a local tour from our selection to fill a fortnight if preferred: Or simply relax & soak up Chiang Mai's atmosphere, masses to occupy all

As the name implies (Tip: It's not River Kwai...Kwai is a buffalo and mostly a derogative term) we spend a couple of nights in the town of Kanchanaburi, home to The (tribute) Bridge Over The River Kwae. The original was indeed destroyed by the Allies, however numerous graveyards, museums and even a Train Ride along the infamous "Death Railway" tracks using many of the embankments & cuttings which cost "A Soul For Every Sleeper Laid". We pay our respects to all those brave Servicemen, POW's and Immigrant Labour who lost their lives under the most brutal conditions.

Possibly the most poignant occasion for our visits here coinciding with various remembrance days observed in many countries. Various denominations hold Religious Ceremonies for those who care to attend, mostly commencing around 4am which equates to daybreak in Sydney. One Railway Cutting in particular, mostly overlooked by 99% visitors to the area - purely because it's over an hour's (quick) travel away from town; in fact is a "mustn't miss" you'll be able to see - each - and - every - hammer - blow - twist - blow - and - twist of the steel spikes they used to Hand-Drill the holes for dynamite charges into solid granite for blasting the 100' depth necessary for level track. If the evidence wasn't all around, everywhere clearly visible that no machinery was used, you would not, and still almost can not comprehend such an achievement.Day 1) ArrivalDay 2) Day Ride. Shakedown for rider & machine, ensure both prepared & ready for the coming ministrations. And yes, if you're less than a half decent rider I will chuck you in the truck for the duration. No refunds.Day 3) 320Km: Visiting temples, falls and a museum bearing opposite viwpoints - fascinatingDay 4) 230 Km: Visiting Burmese Refugee Camps, plus scenery & experiences only available through us, less Km's than yesterday while still more saddle-time. Good Value.Day 5) 354 Km. Easy K's today. Cruising. Many, many possible attractions, TBA D2.Day 6) 381 Km. Should be settling into the bike by now. If it ain't a part of you already...sure will be by the end of today! This one separates the wheat from the chaff, crescendo ending to the day with "the corkscrew", BEST bit of road in the entire country! Stay sharp!!Day 7) 70 Km. Kushty. Often touted as "Thailand's most beautiful waterfalls", it's still worth a visit just to laugh at the 100+ Kg Russian ladies unable to understand they're actually offensive to the eye? Pictograph signs every 50-100m apart proclaiming respectable dress / respectful behaviour..which is why in the north here you'll see Chinese language rather than Russian, lesser of two...Day 8) Off the bikes. If you like?! 100 Km or so to the aforementioned "mustn't miss", further if you like, we're entirely at your disposal, the "customer's choice" day.Day 9) 350 Km. Northbound again, mountains to the left, plains on the right - avoiding those awful 6-lane wide strips of concrete & tarmacadam, home of the catatonic. Day 10) 80 Km Half a day exploring some quite phenomenal archeology & architecture, before heading north to a fantastic little spot on the riverside... winding down, time to reflect upon the unbelievable amount of...stuff...crammed into such a short space of time and: It's over already?!?! We only left Chiang Mai the day before...oh, yeah, suppose so...Day 11) 300 Km. Sweeping bends, chilled, relaxed, give the ol girl a handful every now and again. Become quite attached we have. Certainly never had a moment to begin those paperback thrillers bought on impulse in the airport, never pushed, never rushed, never had an idea there even was any form of schedule or timetable? And yet, never wanted for a thing, never had to ask...either...never actually had to worry, no concerns, don't enjoy admitting it but didn't have to..think..really? Appeared to be the entire country moved around our group, adapted itself to our needs, flawlessly, as if a whim of our collective wills. Day 12) Wow. Refreshed, relaxed & even still a little shell-shocked! Return Transfer to CNX International airport seamlessly organised, beginning to wonder if it was all a dream and really I'm about to wake up on the Inbound flight, before the holiday? The TMT regular guests assured me this disjointed feeling totally normal on the first tour or two, those little "grin" moments just keep unveiling themselves months afterwards...

A relaxing day cruising along the banks of the river ping, lunch by the riverside, beautiful scenery, Baan Tawai antiques, cultural heritage and craftwork village.

All day rides are optional and can be varied to suit the group's desires.

Fancy going somewhere? We can be entirely flexible and head just about anywhere you fancy, enough notice and even spend the weekend away?

Other attractions include: Tours around Chiang mai's historic inner and outer city, experiencing cultural phenomena such as the Night Bazaar, Sunday craft market, live traditional Thai shows and entertainment, Restaurants, Bars, Nightclubs and various authentic dining experiences which are all completely different to their Western counterparts.

Generally: Arrival & Departure Days being the Saturday, Day Ride on the Sunday after a short inductionMonday to Friday out on the road. Extra nights’ stay before/after the tour are readily available to best suit your flights, take your time booking to find the best deal, and we’ll gladly accommodate you, no problem

Saving You Money...!

We all work long & hard for those few little treats in life, doing without something to afford another. TMT is synonymous with Good Value. Please accept our apologies if the pricing tables below appear overly complicated: However, In order to save you as much cash as possible we've tiered our prices, both seasonally and economically. Rather than banging out a "One-Price-Fits-All" rate (with cash customers supporting the entire system), we prefer to offer our guests as many options as possible, and consequently offering a budget for every wallet? Don't hesitate to drop me a line if I can help clarify anything for you / work out your personal price, it'll be my pleasure

Beginning with Three-Tier Pricing: Thailand's Three Seasons, Low being quiet & least expensive, while Peak Season usually requires booking 6 months or more in advance?

Low/High/Peak Seasons

Peak Season with the best weather runs November – February, Low (Monsoon) Season July/August/September, weather totally by luck of the draw. Lastly: By Default High Season occupies those remaining months, March, April, May, June and October, Certainly better weather guaranteed than through the Monsoon Season, but may still experience a few scattered showers

Looking for more than just a single day's riding? No Problem

From these Day Rates we can simply price a 1 / 2 / 3 (or more) D/N Tour, if it looks like decent weather ahead? Please Note: - Should we decide to stay away from Chiang Mai for a night or two, SRS Will Apply

River Kwae Loop, Around Thailand Loop & Bespoke Tours

We know this country intimately, and are able to organise a vast array of Bespoke / Specialist Tours: POA

Our entirely optional Collision Damage Waiver plan covers any accidental damage to the bike, and all for 2,000 THB/motorcycle/week. Conditions apply; First 20,000 Baht of each/any claim being Rider’s Responsibility

Cash Transferral Charges

Regretfully we must pass on the 5% service charge PayPal renders. Should you wish to pay by BTT (Bank Tele- Transfer) the only charge incurred will be for transmittal from your bank: sender accepts responsibility for this fee. We accept all charges regarding receipt of said transfer, while deducting any forwarded transmittal fees from remittance total. Hard-copy receipt issued by our bank detailing all charges scanned & forwarded via email, original retained FYI on arrival. Similarly, if you elect to remit by credit card, there is a 4.5% Service Fee levied to your account. We pride ourselves on being above board – NO hidden costs or charges, everything open for scrutiny

Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to read this far!

We've striven over the years to reach the pinnacle of motorcycle touring and are very proud indeed to have maintained this position. We will continue tirelessly & diligently, adding to our reputation as a matter of course on the likes of TripAdvisor etc. If you have any comments / criticism regarding this website or our Modus Operandi...please, let us know, we'd really appreciate your input.

And if you have the slightest query - please don't hesitate to contact us and we'll be more than happy to assist

Our office hours in Thailand are 05.30-13.30 (GMT + 7hrs)

Calls/emails outside these hours will not be answered until the following day. I believe it's very rude to have one's nose buried in the phone/PDA while guests who've paid for our attention are being ignored? Consequently after 7am daily I'm on our guests' timetable and at their disposal, apologies but guests' here now must take precedence over enquiries.

I take just the one weekend off in each month, usually the third immediately after we finish a tour.

WHY Thai-Mc-Tours?

Why indeed? There's plenty of choice, and fairly equal prices - after all, so much merchandise here in Asia isn't original! Established in 2004, we spied a gap in the market to become the first all on-road Thailand Specialists.

Which is precisely why we're not branching out into Laos, China, etc., etc., as appears to be the latest trend. We've never followed the pack. We prefer to guide you knowledgeably around this single, wonderful country; providing you with the best holiday you've ever had, responsibly...so you don't have to worry!!

Elsewhere: You can play follow-the-leader-for-days-on-end across some faceless land, anyone can manage a half-arsed job just check for; LOADS of Km's, pile them on, early starts, late finishes, "wow, killer day - make sure you're all shattered every evening...hey, they won't actually care never really felt the place, just hammered through between breakdowns... Sound familiar? Because it's the oldest trick in the book - rest assured such cheap tricks are never employed here.

Ask yourself; why do you work so hard all year, just to pay any of the tour companies/operators?

For their knowledge & skill-set, eventually (hopefully!) saving you time, money, stress & hassle. The TMT Team always able to act in your best interests, when it matters - and you need it - most. Just as you choose a reputable insurer for your valuables, a reputable kennels for your pet while away, why short-change yourselves? Back-packing was great when we were young, full of vim & vigour - these days would you rather see all the attractions, or chat personally with an expert who's able to ensure all your requirements will be satisfied? Even to the point of recommending another tour if necessary. Sales aren't our first priority - customer satisfaction is.

Extensive local knowledge, – not to mention countless friends made and tour partners tried and tested along the way and over the years, meaning you'll enjoy impeccable service, safety, and professionalism from start to finish. Extra members of the family are brought in to staff larger tours as and when necessary; consequently overheads are kept to a minimum - you receive better value for money.

Accommodation/restaurants are the same authentically Thai hotels and resorts the “high-flyers” choose which include all modern conveniences and amenities. They are spotlessly clean, family run establishments wherever possible so guests can experience Thailand's true self and her wonderful people on a personal level. It's a matter of great pride for them never to have received a single complaint. There's an atmosphere which pervades the entire country which is truly not to be missed and a crying shame so many do.

All riders are welcome, from the novice biker up to the old hand. Never tiring of these guided tours as every one IS still an adventure; there's always something new, different & more often than not quite amazing. Plus the laughs along the way, quite honestly blessed to be socialising with the best side of society, no question...bikers! The touring is relatively easy but still exhilarating; riding on the left-hand side of the road as in the UK and Australia. Add to that a warm tropical climate and totally new experiences almost every moment of the day with people who know what they're doing in such situations and it all adds up to a combination that is quite simply unavailable elsewhere; the perfect two-wheeled holiday!

We supply as standard the Honda CB500. These bikes are lightweight, comfortable, plenty powerful enough, and deal with these road conditions perfectly. Available as a free upgrade for those two-up with pillion are the excellent Kawasaki Versys'. Experience has taught us you really don't want or need anything larger than these. They are light, tractable and manoeuvrable, and perfect for these roads. Harley Davidson-style bikes may be great on the unending straights of the American Interstates, but they are totally unsuited to the twisty, exciting roads of Northern Thailand.

If required, additional adventure activities can be added to your tour, including: bungee jumping, all terrain vehicle (ATV) riding in the jungle, special (Honda Pilot) much larger all terrain vehicles through the jungle, mountain biking in the jungle, white water rafting, bamboo river rafting, kayaking, paint-balling, a visit to the shooting range, micro-lighting, elephant riding, massage & spa experience, hiking in the jungle, golf, fishing, Muai-Thai (Thai boxing), Thai cookery courses, Thai massage courses, The Tiger Kingdom, Flight of the Gibbon (a 7km zip-line experience), basically enough to fill another whole week just around Chiang mai if you like!

Go with the Pro's - there isn't another company with greater experience or better value in Thailand Motorcycle Touring.

FACT - Estd. 2004, and dates don't lie. Seen plenty out there who enjoy saying "Fact" as if the statement may make it come true? Thanks Gentlemen - we DO feel honoured you're trying SO hard to be us, and amused you're not quite brave enough to be yourselves? Worried you may miss out on the Aussies & Brits if admit you're German? Awww...Must be SOME who'll appreciate their towels laid out on their deck-chairs at daybreak! Feel free to copy this one too...lol!

Motorcycle Touring in Thailand

Thai Motorcycle Tours is a small, family-run adventure motorbike touring business, owned and hosted by husband and wife team Miles and Bpuk Nadin along with several trusted family members on both sides. Miles (from the Midlands, England) will deal with your enquiries and assist your booking personally; so acquainting himself with your requirements along the way. Both take great pride in their personal service and even see to your airport transfers personally. Miles leads the tour but you'll soon discover it's Bpuk (from N.E. Thailand) who does all the real work! Organising everything quietly behind the scenes, calling ahead with guests' individual requirements to ensure all runs smoothly & without a hitch.

Allow these two to take the stresses & strains for you, relax and enjoy your holiday. What's more, they're one of the few motorcycle tour operators to be endorsed & awarded a license by "TAT" (Tourism Authority of Thailand - License Number 51/00684), with the government's seal of approval and backing, your holiday is assured - in short everything above board ensuring a completely carefree holiday.The only items not arranged are your Flights and usual (personal) Holiday Insurance.

Once they've met you at the airport, every last detail arranged exactly, flawlessly: Time to kick back, relax, and have some fun while somebody else does the work for a change! You've worked for way too long promising yourself the holiday of a lifetime, let your hair down and let the most experienced crew in the country ensure your expectations are well & truly exceeded!!

The Thai Motorcycle Tours (TmT) Team

Miles

After holidaying here annually for some fifteen years he took the plunge and emigrated in the year 2000, then worked in a State School (50 Students per class, 3,900 in the entire school, 17 separate classes so on average taught 850 different students every week) for the next four years. Absolutely no better way to experience & learn a culture than undergoing total immersion with its youth and their mentors, the Thai Teaching Staff. Absolutely invaluable. First rode at 7y/o, frightened the living crap out of himself...but still bitten by the biking bug went out and bought a Honda SS50 at 9y/o. Fell off more than stayed on but then competed at semi-pro level through Grasstracking, Trials, Scrambling (before the days of Motocross) before settling on the Enduro Scene as suiting him best. Happier sliding around in the dirt than anywhere and knowing all these routes like the back of his hand, you'll be assured of a great ride. Will ride to your pace for added peace of mind; knowing how the next bend is laid out, your safety by pointing out hazards well in advance, ohh, okay then, it's much more fun tearing up the asphalt together, lol!!

Bpuk (pronounced Book/Pook rather than buck/puck)

Why the B-p, is it "Bu'pook" then? Hehehe, no, as the Thais have 44 consonants & 32 vowels - many sounds we simply don't have and this one's halfway between a 'B' and a 'P'? So either a hard B...or soft P sound. She also answers to "The Little General", "Boss", etc., lol! On the road she's back marker (and yes, can out-ride most of you!), often drives the service vehicle, books, orders, deals with, does...everything, really. Experience? Qualified as a Tour Guide many moons ago, native, fluent in ALL dialects countrywide and an insatiable appetite for your smiles. This little lady will go through hell & back if your happiness assured by the result. Her mind like a steel trap, once she knows your preferences, nothing will arrive any other way.

You too will experience complete immersion into the authentic sights, smells and sounds of the Thai culture – from people who happily live in and love the country. Such examples can only be gleaned from such a partnership, whose cultural backgrounds allow them to see both sides of the coin and subsequently offer unrivalled depth of understanding & insight.

"Yai" (Mr Big!) & "Boy" (Bpuk's Cousin)

Yai is our 15-seat VIP Minibus Driver, and Boy assists, plus drives (extra) service vehicles as necessary, takes 2nd-man spot when necessary, etc. These characters will be checking your fluid levels, chains, brakes etc. every morning so just give them the nod if anything's necessary? We don't employ any "mechanics" per-se, no need, these bikes all in perfect working order & main-dealer serviced. Religiously.

Pum, May, Nokkaew, Baan, Dtam

Other family members capable of many roles depending on the size & scope of a particular tour.

After all the blurb then, really...WHY us?

Because we remember that first and foremost this is a holiday. In many cases the only holiday you'll have abroad all year. Maybe can only afford to push the boat out in this manner every couple, three, even five years? As we neither ask these questions, differentiate - or even care about your financial / personal restrictions we're left with the only logical choice: Everyone deserves the holiday of a lifetime! Arrive with heart and mind open; allow us the chance, we WILL provide. Very proud of the fact nobody has ever been dissatisfied in 12 years running.